Ecotricity News Feedhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/
Ecotricity News Feeden-GBez@bluetel.co.uk (Bluetel Solutions)Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:00:44 +0000Fri, 09 Dec 2016 13:00:42 +0000eZ Components Feed dev (http://ezcomponents.org/docs/tutorials/Feed)http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specificationhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/media/greenbird/ecotricity-logo/26855-1-eng-GB/ecotricity-logo_rss.gifEcotricity News Feedhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/
Ecotricity challenges fracking with new Green Gas Millshttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-challenges-fracking-with-new-green-gas-mills
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<p><b>Green energy firm Ecotricity is challenging the fracking industry by submitting applications for its new Green Gas Mills on sites already proposed for fracking.</b></p>
<p>The company has put in Green Gas Mill applications at two fracking sites in Lancashire: Preston New Road, rejected by Lancashire Council, but then approved by the government over the heads of local people; and Roseacre Wood, also rejected by Lancashire councillors this year, but which looks set to be the next site forced through by the government.&nbsp;</p>
<p>In a new report released last month,&nbsp;<b>Green Gas: The Opportunity for Britain</b>, Ecotricity unveiled a national plan for Britain to get its gas through a new and sustainable method, using species-rich grass grown on farmland.</p>
<p>The report found that there is enough grassland to provide almost all of Britain’s household gas demand by 2035 – in the process creating a new industry supporting 150,000 jobs and pumping £7.5 billion into the economy every year. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Making gas this way will enable big cuts to carbon emissions, create wildlife habitats on an unprecedented scale, support food production by improving soils, and provide support for farmers who are set to lose EU subsidies following Brexit.</p>
<p>Ecotricity recently won planning permission to build its first Green Gas Mill in Hampshire – and its latest applications at potential fracking sites are the next step in the company’s campaign to prevent fracking in Britain by highlighting the lack of democracy in the planning process ­and the fact that there is an alternative way to make our gas.</p>
<p>In addition, Ecotricity has financially supported the legal action taken by communities against fracking at sites in Ryedale and Balcombe.</p>
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Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:&nbsp;“local opposition to fracking is simply being ignored – it’s the most unpopular energy source ever, but it’s being forced on people by the government.</p>
<p>“We want to show that there‘s an alternative to fracking – and start a local debate in the areas directly affected by it, in the same way we want to start a debate at the national level, including the House of Commons.</p>
<p>“It’s important not just to oppose fracking, but to have an answer as to where Britain is going to get its gas from as North Sea supplies run out.</p>
<p>“Green gas is the new option – this is something that local communities should be able to choose instead of fracking, and something the government should now consider.</p>
<p>“It’s not too late to prevent fracking – it hasn’t really started yet. We’ve unveiled a new way of making gas – it’s a viable alternative to fracking, and the right thing to do in light of this new option is to have a proper review of where we’re going to get our gas in Britain.</p>
<p>“That’s why we’re calling on Theresa May to think again and look at green gas as the genuine alternative.”</p>
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<p><b>To this end, Ecotricity has launched a petition urging the Government to reconsider where Britain will get its gas from in future:
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-we-re-calling-on-government-to-consider-green-gas-instead-of-fracking"
target="_blank" >Green Gas or Fracking – Let the People choose</a>.</b></p>

ez@bluetel.co.uk (Max Lawrence)3e8b98b8a8c891e0d31db93b7a872c7aThu, 08 Dec 2016 14:19:39 +0000It's official: Ecotricity is disruptivehttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/it-s-official-ecotricity-is-disruptive
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<p>Ecotricity has been named as one of Britain’s ‘top 10 most disruptive companies’ in today’s 20th anniversary edition of the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.</p>
<p>The inaugural Virgin Media Business Disruptor 10, researched by Fast Track, recognises ten companies for having a business model, product or service that is creating a new market, or transforming existing markets and rapidly taking market share from competitors.</p>
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<li><b>Ecotricity</b>&nbsp;was recognised for being “the world’s first green energy company with Europe’s largest ‘electric highway’ of 300 ‘electricity pumps’ for electric cars at UK service stations and pioneering carbon neutral gas production”.</li>
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<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b>&nbsp;“It’s fun to be named on this new list of disruptive companies – we don’t mind wearing that badge. It’s actually quite exceptional, since we’ve been doing this for twenty years, to still be considered disruptive.</p>
<p>“It’s our independence that’s enabled this – having no shareholders means we’re free to pursue our mission to build a Green Britain in any way we think is right.</p>
<p>“And in 2017, we’ll be taking our own brand of disruption into a new industry, as yet totally untouched by all this eco stuff.”</p>
<p><b>Other companies in the Disruptor Top 10 include:</b></p>
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<li><b>Brewdog</b>&nbsp;sells its craft beer in more than 60 countries. About 6,000 of its beer-loving investors attended the company’s annual meeting in Aberdeen in April and it has raised £30m from 53,000 “equity punks”.</li>
<li><b>PureGym</b> has attracted more than 800,000 customers across the UK with its contract-free, low price-point gym memberships, securing a 37% share of the value gym sector.</li>
<li><b>Crowdcube</b>&nbsp;has helped pioneer crowdfunding in the UK, matching its 300,000 registered investors with more than 450 enterprises looking to raise funds - from craft brewers to app developers.</li>
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<p>Peter Kelly, managing director of Virgin Media Business, said: “At the core of the disruptive forces in all these businesses are digital innovation and technology platforms. The success of these disruptors shows how digital has progressed in just one generation and is the now the backbone of successful companies who are taking market share away from companies who are less digitally focussed.”</p>
<p>An overall winner will receive a special award from Virgin Media Business at the Fast Track 100 national awards dinner in May next year, hosted by Sir Richard Branson.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)7d6b2d2fccbc11a456aaba4fa32230f0Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:41:32 +0000ecobond four receives applications for over £12 million with two days remaininghttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecobond-four-receives-applications-for-over-12-million-with-two-days-remaining
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<p>Britain’s greenest energy company, Ecotricity, has so far received applications for over £12 million of ecobond four, its latest corporate mini-bond which enables its customers and the wider public to invest directly and share in the financial benefits of the Company’s work.</p>
<p><b>ecobond four</b>&nbsp;offers investors a return of 5.0% (Gross) per annum for Ecotricity customers (or 4.5% (Gross) per annum for everyone else) and follows three previous mini-bond issues which raised almost £38 million.</p>
<p>Applications for ecobond four close on Wednesday 30th November 2016 at 5pm.</p>
<p><b>Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince, said:</b>&nbsp;“When we launched ecobond one, it was a pretty radical idea, with a simple ambition: to give people the opportunity to share in the financial benefits of the Green Energy revolution.</p>
<p>“With ecobonds one, two and three, we’ve raised almost £38 million – which has been a massive boost to our work.</p>
<p>“We’ve made great progress over the last twelve months – we’re supplying Green Energy to over 190,000 customers, we’ve finished four new wind parks, and we’ve just got approval to build our first Green Gas mill, the first of its kind in Britain.</p>
<p>“And now, to continue our momentum, we’ve launched ecobond four – which will give customers and the wider public the chance to share the benefits of the next phase of our work.”</p>
<p>Ecotricity previously issued ecobond one (2010) and ecobond two (2011), which were both oversubscribed and both raised £10 million. Ecobond three raised just under £18 million in autumn 2015.</p>
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<a href="https://ecobond.ecotricity.co.uk/"
target="_blank" >Find out more about ecobond four here</a>, with applications closing on Wednesday 30th November 2016.</p>
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<table class="default" border="3" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr class=""><td valign="top"> <p><b>ecobonds four are for an initial five year term and will then automatically extend for further 12 month periods, subject to notice of redemption being given by the bondholder. ecobonds four cannot be transferred, traded or converted. &nbsp;ecobonds four are an unsecured debt and there is no certainty Ecotricity Bonds plc (or Ecotricity Group Limited, as guarantor), will be able to repay them.</b></p>
<p><b>Holders of ecobonds four are not protected against loss by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.</b></p>
<p><b>This press release, which is a financial promotion for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”), is issued by the Company which accepts responsibility for the information contained herein. This letter has been approved as a financial promotion for UK publication by SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (“SPARK Advisory”), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. SPARK Advisory is registered on the Financial Conduct Authority’s Register with registered number FRN182762. SPARK Advisory is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the issue of ecobonds four for promotion to the limited class of persons listed in FCA COBS Rule 4.7.7 (being (a) certified as a "high net worth investor"; (b) certified as a "sophisticated investor"; (c) self-certified as a "sophisticated investor) or (d) certified as a "restricted investor"). SPARK Advisory will not regard any other person as its customer or be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to customers of SPARK Advisory or for advising any such person in relation to the issue of ecobonds four.</b></p>
<p><b>Applications should only be made on the basis of the Invitation Document and the Instrument.</b></p>
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ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)d3b5c13caad1e8071c9fa66807c224bfTue, 29 Nov 2016 11:01:33 +0000Ecotricity unveils plan for Britain to make its own gas – from grasshttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-unveils-plan-for-britain-to-make-its-own-gas-from-grass
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<p><b>Ecotricity has today unveiled its plan for Britain to make its own gas from grass, grown on marginal farmland, of which Britain has enough to heat almost every home in Britain.</b></p>
<p>Ecotricity outlines the potential in a new report –&nbsp;<b>Green Gas Mills: The Opportunity for Britain</b>&nbsp;– which shows that green gas from grass could provide all of the gas needs for 97% of Britain’s homes, pump £7.5 billion annually into the economy, and create a new industry with up to 150,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Additionally, green gas made this way is virtually carbon neutral, so could play a significant role in Britain meeting its climate targets, and creates new habitats for wildlife on an unprecedented scale.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ecotricity has just received&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-s-green-gas-mill-at-sparsholt-college-gets-go-ahead"
target="_self" >permission to build its prototype ‘Green Gas Mill’</a>, the first of its kind in Britain.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said</b>: “As North Sea reserves run out, the big question is where we’re going to get our gas from next. The government thinks fracking is the answer, but this new report shows that we have a better option.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Recently, it’s become possible to make green gas and put it into the grid, in the same way we’ve been doing with green electricity for the last two decades. The current way of doing that is through energy crops and food waste – but both have their drawbacks.</p>
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“Through our research, we’ve found that using grass is a better alternative, and has none of the drawbacks of energy crops, food waste or fracking – in fact, it has no drawbacks at all.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Our first Green Gas Mill has just been given the go-ahead, and we hope to build it soon – though that does depend on whether government energy policy will support this simple, benign and abundant energy source.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“As our report shows, the benefits of Britain making its gas this way are astounding. And in the light of this new option available to us, I call on Teresa May to review the government’s plan for where Britain gets its gas – post-North Sea.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We now have a more than viable alternative to fracking, which people have been fighting tooth and nail up and down the country to prevent. It’s not too late, because fracking hasn’t started yet. We need a proper review of where Britain gets its gas from – we can either frack the countryside or we can grow the grass. It’s that simple.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>Making green gas from grass will cut carbon emissions, help Britain become energy independent, support food production by improving soils, create wildlife habitats, and provide support for farmers who are set to lose EU subsidies following Brexit.</p>
<p><b>Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP Minister</b>: “If the government would only throw its weight behind green gas, it would go a long way to delivering on our renewable heating targets and secure our energy for the future. I am very grateful to Ecotricity and others who want and are willing to push forward on this vital part of our energy mix.”</p>
<p><b>Doug Parr, Chief Scientist and Policy Director of Greenpeace UK, said</b>: “As long as it’s not competing with food production, green gas like this project can be really helpful in getting the UK onto a cleaner and lower carbon path. Agriculture need not simply be part of the problem in tackling climate change, but through innovation it can be part of the solution, and improve wildlife habitats at the same time. ”</p>

ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)9117175e43764e6d615103e78941103bFri, 18 Nov 2016 00:00:21 +0000ecobond four to offer interest of up to 5.0% (Gross) per annum to investorshttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecobond-four-to-offer-interest-of-up-to-5.0-gross-per-annum-to-investors
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</div><p>Ecotricity, the greenest energy company in Britain, has launched the fourth series of its corporate mini-bonds, ecobonds – enabling its customers and the wider public to invest directly and share in the financial benefits of the Company’s work.</p>
<p><b>ecobond four</b>&nbsp;will offer investors a return of 5.0% (Gross) per annum for Ecotricity customers (or 4.5% (Gross) per annum for everyone else) and follows three previous mini-bond issues which raised almost £38 million.</p>
<p><b>Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince</b>, said: “When we launched ecobond one, it was a pretty radical idea, with a simple ambition: to give people the opportunity to share in the financial benefits of the Green Energy revolution.</p>
<p>“With ecobonds one, two and three, we’ve raised almost £38m – which has been a massive boost to our work.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“We’ve made great progress over the last twelve months – we’re supplying Green Energy to over 190,000 customers, we’ve finished four new wind parks, and we’ve just got approval to build our first Green Gas mill, the first of its kind in Britain.</p>
<p>“And now, to continue our momentum, we’re launching ecobond four – which will give customers and the wider public the chance to share the benefits of the next phase of our work.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ecotricity previously issued ecobond one (2010) and ecobond two (2011), which were both oversubscribed and both raised £10 million. Ecobond three raised just under £18 million in autumn 2015.</p>
<p>To find out more about ecobond four, go to:&nbsp;
<a href="https://ecobond.ecotricity.co.uk/"
target="_blank" >https://ecobond.ecotricity.co.uk/</a>&nbsp;with applications closing on 30 November 2016.</p>
<table class="default" border="3" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr class=""><td valign="top"> <p><b>ecobonds four are for an initial five year term and will then automatically extend for further 12 month periods, subject to notice of redemption being given by the bondholder. ecobonds four cannot be transferred, traded or converted. &nbsp;ecobonds four are an unsecured debt and there is no certainty Ecotricity Bonds plc (or Ecotricity Group Limited, as guarantor), will be able to repay them.</b></p>
<p><b>Holders of ecobonds four are not protected against loss by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.</b></p>
<p><b>This press release, which is a financial promotion for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”), is issued by the Company which accepts responsibility for the information contained herein. This letter has been approved as a financial promotion for UK publication by SPARK Advisory Partners Limited (“SPARK Advisory”), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. SPARK Advisory is registered on the Financial Conduct Authority’s Register with registered number FRN182762. SPARK Advisory is acting exclusively for the Company in connection with the issue of ecobonds four for promotion to the limited class of persons listed in FCA COBS Rule 4.7.7 (being (a) certified as a "high net worth investor"; (b) certified as a "sophisticated investor"; (c) self-certified as a "sophisticated investor) or (d) certified as a "restricted investor"). SPARK Advisory will not regard any other person as its customer or be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to customers of SPARK Advisory or for advising any such person in relation to the issue of ecobonds four.</b></p>
<p><b>Applications should only be made on the basis of the Invitation Document and the Instrument.</b></p>
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ez@bluetel.co.uk (Livia Ionescu)e3f520d0cea16718ea43152d61187c84Fri, 28 Oct 2016 13:30:18 +0000Ecotricity’s Green Gas Mill at Sparsholt College gets go-ahead http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-s-green-gas-mill-at-sparsholt-college-gets-go-ahead
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<p>Ecotricity, Britain’s leading green energy company, has today received planning permission to build a Green Gas Mill in Hampshire – the first of its kind in Britain.</p>
<p>Located at Sparsholt College in Hampshire and fuelled by locally sourced grass, the Green Gas Mill will inject £60 million into the local economy, create new jobs, and produce enough clean gas to heat over 4,000 homes every year.</p>
<p>As part of the unique partnership, Ecotricity will finance and build the Green Gas Mill with an investment of £10 million, and also help fund the development of a Renewable Energy Demonstration Centre.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The College has agreed funding of £1.2m in grant funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership (M3 LEP) to go towards the development of the College’s Renewable Energy Demonstration Centre.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Renewable Energy Demonstration Centre will also be the first of its kind – a place to train the next generation of green energy engineers in Britain. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ecotricity introduced the concept of making green gas from grass in Britain early last year, and after today’s planning permission from Winchester City Council, it will be full speed ahead to complete the necessary preparation before construction can begin. &nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b>&nbsp;“This is great news, green gas from grass has so much to offer Britain, and this planning consent gives us the opportunity to get started.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Earlier this week the government overruled the local planners in Lancashire to grant approval for the first Fracking site in Britain - as opinion polls show opposition to Fracking reaching an all-time high.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Green gas is the answer, Hampshire looks set to lead the way.”</p>
<p><b>Tim Jackson, Sparsholt College principal, said:</b> “I had every confidence that the planning committee would see the logic of this application which is entirely in line with local and national planning policy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“The low carbon aspirations of Winchester through their Low Carbon Strategy are commendable but ambitious, and it needs projects like this one at Sparsholt College to help the 20% target of energy generated from renewables by 2020 in order to stand any chance of meeting this.</p>
<p>“I'm confident that working with Ecotricity, the College will be able to allay the many unfounded concerns that have been raised during the Planning Application process, and ensure that the project both delivers strongly on its outcomes without inconvenience to those living nearby or further afield.</p>
<p>“I'm also delighted that this project has been so well supported by Grant Funding from the Enterprise M3 LEP and look forward to working with Ecotricity on the delivery of the project.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“It’s good for developing the learning and skills of our current agricultural students and also for developing skills for the future of the industry. It’s also a really significant low carbon energy project for the Winchester area, and in the wider public interest.”</p>
<p>The original planning application for the site was refused in April of this year, however instead of appealing the proposal, Ecotricity addressed the transport concerns in a fresh application, which was submitted in July and included significant traffic alterations and new information.</p>
<p>The company also consulted representatives of the nearby parish councils and incorporated their requests, wherever possible into the routing plans and operational controls.</p>
<p>The resubmission included new and revised traffic data and assessment, new traffic plans to keep vehicle movements away from Sparsholt village and a commitment to protect local road infrastructure.&nbsp;</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Livia Ionescu)be23b61ea6e86c2ff1153d7732232675Thu, 13 Oct 2016 16:48:57 +0000From “off grid” to the Sunday Times 250http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/from-off-grid-to-the-sunday-times-250
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<p>Ecotricity has become Britain’s first green energy company to be listed in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250, which ranks Britain’s leading mid-sized businesses.</p>
<p>It’s the first time Ecotricity has been listed in the report, which has been running for 12 years and features iconic brand names such as Arsenal FC, Barbour, Dr Martens, Nando’s, Skyscanner and Wagamama.</p>
<p>Ecotricity, the world’s first green energy company, has grown rapidly over the past five years, with turnover up from £44m in 2011 to £131m in 2016, and customer numbers up fourfold, from 48,000 to nearly 200,000.</p>
<p>The company is renowned for its excellent customer service, and has received the lowest number of complaints in the industry for the last six years, and there’s been a significant increase in staff numbers over recent years to maintain those high standards, with staff numbers up from less than 200 in 2011 to around 800 today.</p>
<p>The achievement shows the rapid progression of Ecotricity, its founder Dale Vince and the renewables industry in Britain over the past twenty years, as clean energy has gone from a pipe dream to a reality, which makes business and environmental sense.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b> “For me, being in this list reflects the coming of age of our work. In twenty years green energy has come a long way from its roots - the preserve of academics, hippies and dreamers. Green energy is the number one choice and firmly the direction of travel for the whole world now – as it needs to be.”</p>
<p>After leaving school, Dale became a new age traveller and lived “off grid”, generating his own power through a small windmill. It was this sustainable lifestyle that inspired Dale to launch Ecotricity, the first green electricity company in the world, in 1996, marking the beginning of the now global green electricity market.</p>
<p>Dale’s mission was and remains to change the way energy is made and used in Britain, and the company now supplies 100% renewable electricity and green gas to households and businesses across the country.</p>
<p>But that mission has expanded over recent years, and now includes the three causes of 80% of all personal carbon footprints – Energy, Transport and Food. As well as building wind and solar parks, Ecotricity has installed the world’s first national electric car network, which now has almost 300 ‘electricity pumps’ capable of charging a car in just half an hour.</p>
<p>The group is also planning a 100 acre sports and green technology centre, dubbed Eco Park, next to the M5. Eco Park could create more than 4,000 jobs, as well as house a new stadium for Forest Green Rovers FC, the world’s greenest football club, which Dale Vince is chairman of.</p>
<p>The 12th annual Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 league table supplement is published on 2 October 2016, with Ecotricity placed at number 212.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)f1cd31a9621ab2fcfd20ab67af38d969Mon, 03 Oct 2016 14:25:19 +0000Ecotricity named Best Green Energy Brandhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-named-best-green-energy-brand
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</div><p><b>Ecotricity, Britain’s leading green energy company, was named the world’s Best Green Energy Brand at the&nbsp;
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target="_blank" >first global Energy Branding Conference</a>&nbsp;in Reykjavik last night.</b></p>
<p>Ecotricity beat global competition to the award, including Nordic Green Energy (Finland), Eneco (Netherlands), LOCO2 energy (UK), and awattar (Austria).</p>
<p>A panel of 30 experts from around the world had originally named 80 brands in 20 countries that they considered outstanding energy brands – after a careful screening process, the list was then cut down to a total of five brands in each awards category<b>.&nbsp;</b></p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said</b>: “This is great recognition for Ecotricity and the work that we do.</p>
<p>“We founded the now global green energy movement just over twenty years ago – and at the time, green energy was a radical idea.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“A lot has changed since then – green energy is now the direction of travel of the world, and we’re happy to still be at the forefront of that."&nbsp;</p>
<p>Founded in 1995 as the world’s first green energy company, Ecotricity also introduced green gas to Britain and built and run Britain’s only national network of electric vehicle charge points, the Electric Highway.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Best Green Energy Brand honours outstanding brand work in the field of green energy – the award takes into account how well nominees are able to broadcast a green message through their branding and how effective it is, how well the source of energy is branded and how successful the brand is within its market.</p>
<p>The other winners on the night were: OVO Energy for Best Energy Brand and Stedin for Best Transmission or Distribution Brand.&nbsp;</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Livia Ionescu)55a693852bb9aaaf7c3d12d25c1c9ec6Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:11:37 +0000Ecotricity fund hen harrier tagginghttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-fund-hen-harrier-tagging
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<p>A hen harrier chick has been tagged and is exploring Northern Britain, following the work of a young conservationist and funding from Ecotricity.</p>
<p>These birds of prey are extremely rare in the UK, with only a handful of successful breeding attempts this summer. Sadly, their biggest threat is from people, as hen harriers are illegally killed by some moorland managers to ensure that red grouse, which hen harriers occasionally eat, are instead available to shoot for sport.</p>
<p>Ecotricity got involved in protecting hen harriers after meeting the young environmentalist Findlay Wilde, who was one of the speakers at last year’s Young Green Briton Chat, which is hosted by Ecotricity at WOMAD Festival. His passion and dedication to protecting the birds was so infectious, Ecotricity founder Dale Vince agreed to fund the tagging of a chick.</p>
<p>Since then Ecotricity has been working alongside Findlay and the RSPB LIFE team to arrange the tagging, which took place on Forestry Commission land in Northumberland earlier this summer. The chick has been named Finn in honour of the inspirational youngster and was monitored and protected by the Northumberland Hen Harrier Partnership.</p>
<p><b>Findlay Wilde said:</b> “I must say a massive thank you to the RSPB LIFE team and Ecotricity for enabling Finn to be monitored through the satellite tagging scheme. When I first approached Dale Vince and Helen Taylor of Ecotricity at the 2015 WOMAD festival, I could never have imagined the opportunity this would create.”</p>
<p><b>Helen Taylor, Ecotricity ambassador, said:</b> “When we first met Finn just over a year ago we were blown away by his passion and dedication to protect hen harriers, and he inspired us to support his conservation work. It has been fantastic to work with him and the RSPB since then on the tagging project and we’re thrilled that the chick named in his honour has now fledged and is exploring its local area.</p>
<p>“We all have a responsibility to protect the wonderful wildlife in this country and the hen harrier is one of our most vulnerable, so we must do all we can to make a difference – before it’s too late.”</p>
<p><b>Blanaid Denman, project manager on RSPB's Hen Harrier LIFE+ Project, said:</b> "It’s been great working with Ecotricity, as a sponsor who clearly care deeply about the natural world. Findlay is such a passionate and inspiring advocate for hen harriers, so it seems utterly fitting to name one of our satellite tagged birds after him."</p>
<p>You can follow Finn's progress online at
<a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/henharrierlife/"
target="_blank" >www.rspb.org.uk/henharrierlife</a> or
<a href="https://twitter.com/RSPB_Skydancer"
target="_blank" >@RSPB_Skydancer</a>.</p>
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ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)8d0f084b7e96bf29b6291f76c2467a2fMon, 12 Sep 2016 14:48:08 +0000Sparsholt College and Ecotricity revise planning application for Green Gasmillhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/sparsholt-college-and-ecotricity-revise-planning-application-for-green-gasmill
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<p><b>A revised planning application for a Green Gas Mill at Sparsholt College has been submitted – addressing the traffic concerns of Winchester City Councillors with new detailed studies, route planning and driver controls.</b></p>
<p>Winchester Councillors refused the initial application to build the £10 million Green Gas Mill and Renewable Energy Training Centre on the College’s 400 acre campus in May, due to concerns over the “type and volume of traffic” proposed on the local rural roads and insufficient “detail of the routes” to be used which posed some safety concerns.</p>
<p>Ecotricity and Sparsholt College have commissioned more detailed analysis of the traffic flow and management plans for the development and have revised the application to include:</p>
<p>more detailed information on the type of tractors and trailers to be used, and after additional traffic surveys, clear restrictions on the timing of deliveries and in some cases a new cap on the number of vehicles</p>
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<li>revised traffic route plans with specific restrictions on roads through villages such as Sparsholt, Littleton, Crawley and Up Somborne that have been marked as red routes for through traffic</li>
<li>strong penalties on drivers using wrong routes, including termination of contracts for repeat offenders.</li>
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<p>The Green Gas Mill, fuelled by locally harvested grass, could produce enough clean gas to power the equivalent of 4,000 homes every year.</p>
<p><b>Tim Jackson, Sparsholt College principal, said:</b>&nbsp;"I am pleased we have been able to add additional detail to the revised application. There has been considerable work undertaken to address the main points of concern around traffic flow and I have been involved in some very constructive meetings with representatives of local parish councils to outline the traffic movements specifically.</p>
<p>“While there has never been any intention to use their lanes as through routes, we’ve none-the-less introduced specific restrictions on roads through the villages­ to provide reassurance to the local community.</p>
<p>“We’ve introduced more detail on why tractors are appropriate on rural roads – where they are already common; and carried out extra traffic surveys to show how the very low increase in traffic volumes – just 3% at its absolute peak near the final destination – dissipating further across the road network. While restrictions on the timing of deliveries and in some cases, the potential to impose caps on the number of vehicles at particular times will further ensure our tractors have little impact on the road network.</p>
<p>“Furthermore we have detailed the penalties our drivers will face if they fail to use prescribed routes and comply with restrictions – including the rapid termination for repeat offenders.</p>
<p>“To back this up, all these restrictions will be included in the operational management plan elements of which will be controlled by conditions on any planning permission and a legal agreement.”</p>
<p>Mr Jackson said Sparsholt College were determined to continue to be good neighbours to the surrounding community and overcome any concerns they held because there were so many benefits to the development.</p>
<p>“The benefits that the Green Gas Mill and Renewable Energy Training Centre are massive. From helping Winchester District towards its renewable energy targets to training the next generation of green gas professionals in a growing industry, through to the financial benefits this project provides to the local farming community and rural economy.”</p>
<p>Up to eight specialist professional jobs will be created to run the Green Gas Mill, while the new supply contracts with farmers – providing the grass and rye feedstock required to supply the anaerobic digestion process – will also reinforce existing jobs.</p>
<p>Furthermore, in line with other renewable energy projects, a community benefit fund of £5,000 a year would be available to the local community.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Max Lawrence)2eaaa70670a9a24fb68f839f291e40dcTue, 16 Aug 2016 09:21:43 +0000Ecotricity pledges to resist Ofgem pressure to share customer datahttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-pledges-to-resist-ofgem-pressure-to-share-customer-data
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<p>Green energy company Ecotricity has today pledged to resist Ofgem efforts to force suppliers to share customer data with the entire energy market, which will lead to British households being bombarded with a “blizzard of junk mail”.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b>&nbsp;“After two years of deliberations the proposals from Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are a massive disappointment.</p>
<p>“They ducked the one big issue before them – cracking down on the abuse of the 70% of households who’ve never switched supplier and are subject to price gouging – where energy companies offer loss-leading tariffs to attract new customers and use longstanding customers to pay for them.</p>
<p>“Instead they’ve opted to create a new abuse – sharing of everyone’s personal data with every energy company in the land – which is likely to create a 'blizzard of junk mail'.</p>
<p>“It's the wrong answer to the problem, they should have tackled unethical supplier behaviour, head on. &nbsp;Not create new burdens for energy customers.</p>
<p>“There are about 20 million homes that will qualify to have their data shared on day one – and with more than 30 suppliers able to access their personal details – we're looking at the creation of up to 600 million items of junk mail. An enormous environmental and social impact.</p>
<p>“Our approach to customer data, and our promise to Ecotricity customers is not to share their data with anyone, ever.</p>
<p>“We will fight to maintain this principle - and we won’t take part in this abuse of customers - we wont be junk mailing to this new database. We think it’s simply wrong.</p>
<p>Vince questioned why regulators were willing to introduce a price control for prepayment meters customers but not for those 70% of customers that have never switched. He said both Big Six firms – such as Scottish Power with a 41% differential – and smaller firms such as First Utility with a 46% difference and Extra Energy with 55% – forced loyal customers to pay more.</p>
<p><b>Vince said:</b>&nbsp;“the rip off of these customers is bigger, with some energy companies charging a 50% premium to longstanding customers, over new ones. And the culprits of this bad behaviour are not just the Big Six, but also some of the fastest growing independent firms.</p>
<p>“The CMA recommendation will improve the situation for the four million prepayment meter customers in Britain. We welcome that, it's been a longstanding shame on so many energy companies, charging a penalty rate to some of the poorest households in Britain. But we lament the fact the same logic is not applied to the vastly bigger customer group who’ve never switched.”</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)0bb914dbd2312e3216de74aba05d2931Wed, 03 Aug 2016 14:27:04 +0000Ecotricity office revamps get green lighthttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-office-revamps-get-green-light
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<p>Ecotricity is set to revamp two of its offices in Stroud’s town centre after receiving planning permission from Stroud District Council.</p>
<p>The company will modernise the exterior of its New Imperial House, next to Stroud railway station, before beginning a complete revamp of New Axiom House, Stroud’s former tax office.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b> “We’re pleased to get permission for these two building projects – and to be able to do something positive in town.</p>
<p>“We’ll start on New Imperial House first – and should complete that this year. We’ve already updated the interior to bring it up to the best eco standards, and the exterior will be a combination of the aesthetic and the environmental.</p>
<p>“This area is one of the gateways to Stroud – and these improvements will have a positive impact on people’s first impressions of the town, as they step out of the train station.</p>
<p>“The old tax office is on another gateway to Stroud and really is an eyesore – almost on a par with Tricorn House. &nbsp;It will take us a bit longer to complete the work required on this building – it’s a major piece of work, inside and out – but when we do complete it, it will be a great improvement to the area and provide room for a couple more years of growth.”</p>
<p>Stroud District Council is also currently considering Ecotricity’s plans for the Eco Park development at Junction 13 of the M5, with a decision expected in the autumn.</p>
<p><b>Dale continued:</b> “All of our thinking is long term, and New Axiom House is a key part of our planning as we continue to grow – we’re nearly 800 people strong now, with 20 vacancies as we speak. Eco Park is for our next phase of growth, as we look beyond the next couple of years.”</p>
<p>Ecotricity modified the designs for both New Axiom House and New Imperial House after local consultation and feedback – the company will retain the arched entrance to New Axiom House and lengthen the multi-coloured blocks planned for the front of the buildings.</p>
<p>Eco Park is a proposed 100 acre sports and green technology centre at Junction 13 on the M5 – half the development is dedicated to creating state-of-the-arts sporting facilities, including a new stadium for Forest Green Rovers, while the other half comprises a green technology business park capable of creating up to 4,000 jobs.</p>
<p>The development will contribute almost £300 million to the Gloucestershire economy annually and plug much of the £3m funding gap for business rates in the Stroud District.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-your-home"
target="_self" >Switch to Ecotricity today</a>.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)767c8f61b78a605b7b37dc328cdfe9e1Tue, 02 Aug 2016 15:43:18 +0000Eco Park worth almost £300million a year to Gloucestershire economyhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/eco-park-worth-almost-300million-a-year-to-gloucestershire-economy
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<p><b>Ecotricity’s Eco Park proposal will be worth almost £300million to the Gloucestershire economy every year, according to new independent research.</b></p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/content/download/1385162/32504242/version/1/file/gva-estimates-for-eco-park.pdf"
target="_self" >The study by specialist economic development consultancy, Regeneris,</a> found that the proposed development at junction 13 of the M5 motorway would provide £288.6m in Gross Value Added to the local economy at its full potential.</p>
<p>The research, using Office of National Statistics data, took into account potential jobs at the Eco Park’s Green Technology Hub (nearly 4000 professional, scientific and technical jobs) and at its Sports Complex (300 jobs), which included the sports science unit and an Ecotricity expansion office, as well as the indirect supply chain and induced effects*.&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b>&nbsp;“I was surprised by this report &nbsp;– of course we felt that Eco Park was going to be a big boost to the local economy, but we had no idea it would be this big.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“£300million a year is a big number – for context that’s a 2% growth in Gloucestershire’s economy** from just this one project – and it will give the area a significant stake in Britain’s fast-growing green economy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Eco Park has had a fantastic response so far, and it has really come a long way since July when we announced the concept.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“Next, we’re looking forward to announcing the winner of the stadium design competition in September, and then hoping for outline planning consent a couple of months later.” &nbsp;</p>
<p>Regeneris’ research follows a previous study by leading independent property consultants, Alder King, which found Eco Park would generate around £2.7million worth of business rates annually – an amount that would almost plug the entire £3million funding gap forecast for 2020 by Stroud District Council***.</p>
<p>Eco Park is a proposed 100 acre sports and green technology centre at junction 13 of the M5 – half the development is dedicated to creating state-of-the-arts sporting facilities, including a new stadium for Forest Green Rovers, while the other half comprises a green technology business park capable of creating up to 4,000 jobs.</p>
<p>Stroud District Council is currently considering Eco Park for outline planning approval.</p>
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<p>* See Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) (2014) Additionality Guide, 4th Edition, HMSO, London. Jobs at the new Forest Green Rovers stadium were not included in the research as these are likely to be displaced from the existing New Lawn stadium.</p>
<p>** The
<a href="https://inform.gloucestershire.gov.uk/get/ShowResourceFile.aspx?ResourceID=392"
target="_blank" >total output of the Gloucestershire economy was approximately £14.82 billion</a> in 2014, representing 12% of the value of output in the South West and 1% of the UK economy. According to latest figures, GVA per head in Gloucestershire was £24,342, slightly below the UK (£24,958) but above the South West average (£22,324).</p>
<p>*** By 2020, local councils will retain 100% of the money they raise in business rates. However, despite this change and a forecasted incremental increase in council tax revenue, the SDC has forecast a funding shortfall of £3m in 2020, which would swallow up the council’s reserves in just a single year.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)ce4b722eb941b2a34afa52c6ca81cb75Thu, 28 Jul 2016 08:33:52 +0000Ecotricity host big name line-up for WOMAD Festival eventshttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-host-big-name-line-up-for-womad-festival-events
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<p>The world’s first green energy company, Ecotricity, will host familiar names from TV, business and conservation in a series of environmental discussions at this summer’s WOMAD Festival.</p>
<p>Ecotricity, which sponsors the Arboretum stage at WOMAD again this year, will host the Big Green Britain Chat on Saturday morning and the Young Green Briton Chat on Sunday morning.</p>
<p>Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow will chair the Big Green Britain Chat at the Ecotricity Stage in the Arboretum, which will ask the question&nbsp;<i>how easy is it to be green?</i>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The panel will include The One Show reporter Lucy Siegle, the head of sustainability at IKEA UK & IE, Joanna Yarrow, and the founder of Ecotricity, Dale Vince - they will each offer their insight and experience into how to live a green lifestyle and will discuss what the future might hold for sustainability in Britain.</p>
<p>The following day will see the winners of Ecotricity’s Young Green Briton Chat competition take to the Siam Tent stage to discuss the issues that matter most to them. Each speaker was selected after entering an Ecotricity competition with their ideas on how to achieve a Green Britain in relation to one of four areas:&nbsp;Energy, Transport, Food or Nature.&nbsp;</p>
<p>They will receive a mentoring session by a leading figure in their chosen area, before discussing their ideas in front of an audience during the Young Green Briton Chat, chaired by Lucy Siegle. The winners are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Joe Inman, 13 (Energy) – mentored by Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince</li>
<li>Martha James, 14 (Transport) – mentored by actor and electric car enthusiast, Robert Llewellyn</li>
<li>Amara Smith, 16 (Food) – mentored by the executive chef and director of Star Anise vegetarian café in Stroud, Nicholas Allan</li>
<li>Josh Gard, 15 (Nature) – mentored by environmental campaigner and author, Mark Avery</li>
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<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b>&nbsp;“Our Young Green Briton competition was a fantastic success last year – we heard some great ideas from some very committed and talented young people. It’s a real encouragement to hear these voices of the up and coming generation, so focussed on sustainability and the idea of a Green Britain.”</p>
<p><b>Lucy Siegle, journalist and environmentalist, said:</b>&nbsp;“Eco literacy for young people isn't just a nice thing to do, it's their right! It will open so many doors in the future too. The education system has unfortunately fallen a long way behind, so bravo to Ecotricity for leading the way. I can't wait to debate the hottest green issues with our crop of talent this year.”</p>
<p><b>Mark Avery, environmental campaigner and author, said:</b>&nbsp;“Working with young people gives me hope that they may do a better job for wildlife and the environment than we oldies have done.”</p>
<p>Ecotricity will also host a children’s cookery workshop at Yalumba Taste the World in the Arboretum on Friday at 10am, to showcase how the food served at the world’s only vegan football club, Forest Green Rovers, is made. The workshop will replicate the club’s ‘making matchday food’ sessions where school groups learn about food provenance and the health and environmental benefits of a vegan lifestyle.</p>
<p>There will also be a number of competitions running which festival-goers will be able to enter – including the chance to win a year’s free energy by switching to Ecotricity, or two tickets to next year’s WOMAD by signing up to their mailing list.&nbsp;</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)5d28f055fbaeab3886507eba7fd9a271Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:42:58 +0000Major changes in Electric Highway as revolution continues at pacehttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/major-changes-in-electric-highway-as-revolution-continues-at-pace
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<p>After five years, 30 million miles and £2.5 million pounds worth of free travel – Ecotricity will finally begin charging electric car drivers for using Britain’s most comprehensive car charging network - the Electric Highway.</p>
<p>A rapid charge of up to thirty minutes will cost £6, while
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-the-road/faqs/general-faqs#free"
target="_self" >the network will remain free for Ecotricity domestic energy customers</a> –
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-the-road/faqs/general-faqs#fairuse"
target="_self" >subject to fair use policy</a>.</p>
<p>The almost 40,000 members of the Electric Highway will need to download a new mobile phone app to make payments, which will have the added functions of a ‘live feed’ of the entire network, so users can see the location and availability of their nearest pump, making it easier for you to plan your journeys.</p>
<p>The Electric Highway is the most comprehensive car charging network in Europe, with nearly 300 ‘Ecotricity Pumps’ across Britain which enable electric car drivers to travel the length and breadth of the country using nothing but renewable energy. Up until now it’s been the only charging infrastructure in Britain that was available completely free of charge. It currently powers around two million miles a month and has powered more than 30 million miles since 2011.</p>
<p>The usage trebled in 2015 and it has been so successful in encouraging the uptake of electric cars that it is now necessary to start charging for the service in order to maintain and grow the network.</p>
<p>A new mobile phone app will replace the current card system, which will be available for Apple and Android devices and will enable users to manage their accounts, pay for charging and check the status of chargers all in one place.</p>
<p>The switch to charging will be manually implemented at all charging points, with work starting on 11 July and expected to be completed by Friday 5 August. This will mean that the changeover to the app payment system will be gradual, with some chargers continuing to work via the free card system later than others.</p>
<p>Ecotricity believes that by 2030 every new car should be electric (pure or hybrid), and that by 2040 they should be the only cars on the road.</p>
<p>Electric Highway facts and stats, as of 31st May 2016:</p>
<ul>
<li>The first Electric Highway pump was installed on 27 July 2011</li>
<li>Ecotricity has since installed a total of 296 Electric Highway chargers, of which 276 are rapid chargers</li>
<li>There are Electric Highway chargers across 96% of the British motorway network</li>
<li>The network stretches from John O’Groats to Land’s End. Jonathan Porterfield and Chris Ramsey were the first drivers to travel the length of the country only using public charging points –&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-34345863"
target="_blank" >a round trip that took 27 hours and 46 minutes</a>&nbsp;in September 2015 and relied almost entirely on the Electric Highway</li>
<li>The Electric Highway has powered a total of 30 million miles totally free of charge</li>
<li>May 2016 was the busiest month of all time on the network. During the month, the Electric Highway powered 2,170,625 miles with 10,121 customers powering their cars with 347.3MWh of electricity through 43,211 separate charges. That’s the equivalent of having a car charging during every minute of every day throughout the month</li>
<li>38,537 customers currently hold Electric Highway cards</li>
</ul>
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<p>Click&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-the-road/faqs"
target="_self" >here&nbsp;to view the FAQs</a>&nbsp;on the Electric Highway website.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)6c9dcf24d30c2850d09626be8a1aa211Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:11:10 +0000Ecotopia’s top five products for staying green at festivals this summerhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotopia-s-top-five-products-for-staying-green-at-festivals-this-summer
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<p>Ecotopia, the online store run by Britain’s leading green energy company Ecotricity, has unveiled a range of environmentally friendly products to help music lovers stay green at this year’s festivals.</p>
<p>Festivals consume a huge amount of energy, with Glastonbury needing a massive&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.britishgas.co.uk/business/blog/glastonbury-how-do-you-power-a-major-music-festival/"
target="_blank" >30,000 megawatts of electricity</a>&nbsp;every year, so Ecotopia has come up with some great ideas to green up the festival experience:</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/sun-king-eco-solar-light"
target="_blank" ><b>Sun King Eco Solar Light</b></a><b>&nbsp;- £19.99</b><br />A brilliant solar light – quick to charge, lasts ages, and ideal to find that tent late at night.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/solar-and-usb-powered-powerbank-charger-speaker-and-mobile-pouch"
target="_blank" ><b>Solar and USB powered powerbank charger, speaker and mobile pouch</b></a><b>&nbsp;- £34.99</b><br />This great 3-in-1 kit is a must have for your festival weekend: it can play your tunes, charge your phone and works as a handy pouch – all powered through a solar panel on the front or a USB connection.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/promotions/feature-pages/festival-favourites/sun-jar"
target="_blank" ><b>Sun Jar</b></a><b>&nbsp;- £16.99</b><br />This amazing solar powered Sun Jar stores energy from the sunshine and releases it all night in the form of a gorgeous coloured glow.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/promotions/feature-pages/kelly-kettle/kelly-kettle-cook-set-pot-stand-bundle"
target="_blank" ><b>Kelly Kettle cook set & pot stand bundle</b></a><b>&nbsp;- £64.99</b><br />If you’re fed up of the long queues and over-priced food at your favourite festival, then this is the answer - a bundle that contains everything you need to cook and eat out in the open.</p>
<p>
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/home-garden/garden-outdoor/outdoor/uv-strength-indicator"
target="_blank" ><b>UV strength indicator</b></a><b>&nbsp;- £3.99</b><br />Thousands of people every year will enjoy a day of festival fun in the sun without realising that they’re getting sunburnt, so this handy tool lets you know the strength of the sun at any point during the day.</p>
<p>All items are available from&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.ecotopia.co.uk/"
target="_blank" >www.ecotopia.co.uk</a>&nbsp;on a special&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.ecotopia.co.uk/promotions/feature-pages/festival-favourites"
target="_blank" >festivals page</a>&nbsp;with free delivery on all orders over £50.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Ecotopia has also launched a&nbsp;<b>competition to win a Sun King Eco Solar Light</b>. The competition is free to enter via&nbsp;
<a href="http://woobox.com/rkvapu"
target="_blank" >woobox.com/rkvapu</a>.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Max Lawrence)e9c31c31aec0a0e0d42db604ae6f89ccWed, 06 Jul 2016 07:32:04 +0000Ecotricity receive planning permission for hybrid energy parkshttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-receive-planning-permission-for-hybrid-energy-parks
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<p>Ecotricity has gained planning permission to build two new sun parks in Bulkworthy in Devon, and Dalby in Leicestershire, which will join with existing wind farms to create some of the first hybrid energy parks in Britain.</p>
<p>The company also has permission to extend Britain’s first hybrid energy park at Fen Farm in Lincolnshire, by adding an additional 5MW of solar capacity.</p>
<p>Hybrid renewable energy parks combine wind and sun generation in the same project, in the same place, using the same grid connection – a more efficient, rounded approach to green energy generation in Britain.</p>
<p>All three projects will see 18,000 solar panels installed with a 5MW capacity, powering over 1,000 homes and each saving nearly 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.</p>
<p>Ecotricity also plans to boost the biodiversity across each site, by creating species-rich grassland and planting native hedgerows in the surrounding area.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity, said</b>: “Hybrid energy parks like this are the future of energy in Britain. The combination of the wind and the sun makes for a more consistent energy supply – and the potential for Britain’s energy independence is huge.</p>
<p>“Ecotricity is approaching 100MW of generation capacity from the wind and the sun now, and we’ll be adding Green Gas Mills to that next year, making green gas from grass – together that’s a blueprint for Britain. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
<p>“Wind and solar made up around 13% of the UK’s entire electricity generation last year – while all renewables together contributed 25% – but we need to be doing more. The current government has cut support for both the wind and solar industries, yet has promised to give nuclear a subsidy at twice the market price for 35 years and has increased support for the oil and gas industries – it’s a government going backwards on climate change.”</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Max Lawrence)2218961e7682ae69708ae9ee9702cb16Mon, 23 May 2016 11:21:01 +0000Amazing time-lapse footage of windmill constructionhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/amazing-time-lapse-footage-of-windmill-construction
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<p>Ecotricity has released a time-lapse video and documentary to mark the completion of a 100m windmill at the RSPB’s headquarters near Sandy in Bedfordshire.</p>
<p>The windmill was constructed over the course of a few weeks, but the new time-lapse film shows it shooting up in just one minute during February 2016.</p>
<p>
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An extended four minute documentary offers fantastic insight into the project. In it, the RSPB’s director of conservation Martin Harper explains why the charity decided to commission the windmill and discusses the wildlife mitigation methods employed to ensure that it is a good neighbour to birds, bats and all wildlife.&nbsp;</p>
<p>These methods include installing a bat detection monitor onto the windmill and switching the turbine off at low wind speed during the summer months – the first time these methods have been used to protect bats in Britain. Simon Pickering, senior ecologist at Ecotricity, discusses the extensive research that took place on the site and the positive impact the windmill will have on the environment.</p>
<p>
<iframe class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="577" height="328" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pJYj1f3XEFI?rel=0&modestbranding=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen>

The RSPB windmill will generate around two million units (kWhs) of green energy every year, equivalent to over half of the electricity the RSPB uses across its 127 UK locations.&nbsp;</p>
<p>With this one wind turbine, Europe’s largest nature conservation charity will reduce carbon emissions by almost 600 tonnes every year.</p>
<p>Ecotricity has financed and installed the wind turbine, which will now produce affordable green energy at a discounted cost to the charity.</p>
<p>Ecotricity pioneered this unique approach fifteen years ago, and its windmills currently power operations for Ford, Michelin, Sainsbury’s and B&Q.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The new turbine is the latest development in a growing portfolio of RSPB projects that are making the charity more energy efficient and greener. The RSPB has aligned its carbon emissions reduction ambitions with the 2008 Climate Change Act, which includes a legal duty for 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emission by 2050. &nbsp;</p>

ez@bluetel.co.uk (Shareef Tai)356b6f2f73331a48e03a88c1c37b5bf2Fri, 20 May 2016 11:49:23 +0000Lucy Siegle to chair Young Green Briton eventhttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/lucy-siegle-to-chair-young-green-briton-event
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<p><b>Mentors including Dale Vince, Robert Llewellyn and Mark Avery also announced</b></p>
<p>The One Show reporter and environmentalist Lucy Siegle will chair an event at WOMAD Festival this summer, which aims to highlight the work of Britain’s greenest youngsters and empower them towards a bright future.</p>
<p>Ecotricity, the world’s first green energy company, is running the Young Green Briton Chat event and is searching for youngsters aged 11-16 to talk on the three areas that make up 80% of our emissions in Britain – Energy, Transport and Food – as well as on the topic of ‘making room for Nature’.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Each of the four winning pupils will be supported by a ‘Green Britain mentor’ who have today been revealed as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity – Energy</li>
<li>Robert Llewellyn, actor and electric car enthusiast – Transport</li>
<li>Mark Avery, environmental campaigner and author – Nature</li>
<li>Nicholas Allan, vegetarian chef - Food</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Lucy Siegle, journalist and environmentalist, said:&nbsp;</b>“Eco literacy for young people isn't just a nice thing to do, it's their right! It will open so many doors in the future too. The education system has unfortunately fallen a long way behind, so bravo to Ecotricity for leading the way! I can't wait to debate the hottest green issues with our crop of talent this year.”</p>
<p>Last year’s winners included Findlay Wilde, a 14 year old conservationist who was mentored by wildlife presenter Simon King – Findlay has since appeared in BBC Wildlife Magazine’s&nbsp;
<a href="http://www.discoverwildlife.com/british-wildlife/uk-top-50-conservation-heroes"
target="_blank" >Wildlife Power List</a>,&nbsp;been interviewed on Springwatch and Newsround, and worked with the RSPB on their Hen Harrier campaign.</p>
<p><b>Findlay Wilde said</b>: "It’s hard to put into words just what a great opportunity and experience the Young Green Briton Chat was. To have the chance to meet such important people from the conservation world was fantastic, but to be able to share my thoughts and feelings with such a massive audience was really something else. It’s not every day you get to reach out to so many people.”</p>
<p>This is the second year of the Young Briton Chat and will be the fourth year that Ecotricity has been at&nbsp;
<a href="http://womad.co.uk/"
target="_blank" >WOMAD</a>, the internationally established world music festival, which this year runs from 28-31 July at Charlton Park in Malmesbury.&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said</b>: “Our Young Green Briton competition was a fantastic success last year – we heard some great ideas from some very committed and talented young people.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“It’s a real encouragement to hear these voices of the up and coming generation, so focussed on sustainability and the idea of a Green Britain. This will be our second year of the competition and we’re looking forward to lots of great new entries, some new mentors and the involvement of some of last year’s winners.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>About the Young Green Briton competition:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Young people aged 11 – 16 can enter the competition by sending a video, written article or a recording to explain their ideas on how Britain could be greener.</li>
<li>Their submission should focus on one of the four categories of Energy, Transport, Food and Nature and also consider what is needed to encourage and inspire others to adopt their ideas across schools, the local community and around the world.</li>
<li>Each of the four winning pupils will meet their ‘Green Britain mentor’ at the festival and receive a mentoring session, before taking the stage to put their points across.</li>
<li>Entries should be sent to
<a href="mailto:younggreenbriton@ecotricity.co.uk"
target="_self" >younggreenbriton@ecotricity.co.uk</a> and must make it clear in the subject line which of the four categories is being entered.</li>
<li>All entries will be acknowledged and must be submitted by 8 June. Ecotricity will select three finalists in each category and each mentor will select the overall winner, per category, by 30 June, when winners will be informed.</li>
<li>The four winners will receive a weekend pass for themselves and two adults to ‘WOMAD 2016’ (including camping and backstage entry into the Artists’ Village), as well as an Ecotricity goody bag and a personal meeting with their Green Britain mentor.</li>
<li>Permission must be obtained from a parent or guardian and&nbsp;
<a href="http://womad.co.uk/terms-conditions-2-2/"
target="_blank" >terms and conditions apply.</a></li>
</ul>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Max Lawrence)6c350426c79f53c2d93d8acfa281bf17Wed, 18 May 2016 10:50:18 +0000Ecotricity and Greenpeace primed for Hinkley Point legal challengehttp://www.ecotricity.co.uk/news/news-archive/2016/ecotricity-and-greenpeace-primed-for-hinkley-point-legal-challenge
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<p>Ecotricity and Greenpeace have today written to the UK and French governments and EDF Energy – warning that any further state aid for Hinkley Point nuclear power station could be illegal.</p>
<p>The letter makes clear that both Ecotricity and Greenpeace would be prepared to challenge further state funding in the courts.</p>
<p>The Hinkley Point project has been struggling for a number of years, despite the support of the UK, French and Chinese governments.</p>
<p>The UK government has given EDF the maximum amount of subsidy allowed under state aid rules, offering the company a 35 year subsidy at twice the market price and an export guarantee for Hinkley.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Despite all this, the project is still not economically viable and in the last week France’s economics minister, Emmanuel Macron, committed to provide further state support for the project – support that Ecotricity and Greenpeace say would be illegal without approval from the European Commission.</p>
<p><b>Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said:</b> “It’s time for everyone to realise that we’ve reached the end of the road for Hinkley Point – it’s not going to happen.</p>
<p>“Illegal state aid is one thing, and we’ll work with Greenpeace to challenge that if it happens – but it’s not just financial issues, there are technical problems with Hinkley Point too.&nbsp;</p>
<p>“EDF are yet to build one of these reactors, their first two attempts are, between them, sixteen years late and billions over budget – nobody in a normal business would attempt a third with the first two so woefully out of control.</p>
<p>“The Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd, has conceded that we don’t need Hinkley Point to keep the lights on in Britain – that’s a change of stance having previously said it was essential for that purpose.</p>
<p>“They need to go further and change their stance on green energy – which powered a quarter of the country last year, and could do so much more if it received even a fraction of the economic and political support given to the nuclear industry.”</p>
<p>Yesterday the French Minister of State for State Reform said that EDF needs to invest in renewable energy not nuclear technology.</p>
<p><b>John Sauven, Greenpeace UK Executive Director said:</b> “The only way Hinkley can be kept alive is on the life support machine of state aid. EDF, if it is to stay in business, needs a new vision which is not looking backwards. And the UK Government needs to stop penalising the UK renewable energy industry in favour of propping up an ailing state owned nuclear industry in France. Globally, the nuclear market is shrinking year by year overtaken by the huge surge in renewable energy. The UK should be a haven for renewable energy investment given the massive potential for wind, solar and tidal to cost effectively meet our energy needs.”</p>
<p>The board of French state-owned EDF meet in Paris on Friday to discuss the much-delayed Hinkley Point project, with a final decision expected on May 12 – it needs a guarantee that the French government will underwrite the company’s involvement in order to commercially justify the huge project risks.</p>
ez@bluetel.co.uk (Jen Hoskins)cbf1595c447bb001998c232901bbd3e2Fri, 22 Apr 2016 08:06:24 +0000